Liberal Democrats to abstain in parliamentary vote on nuclear plants

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Plans for up to ten new nuclear power stations could be blocked after the
appointment of Chris Huhne, a strongly anti-nuclear Liberal Democrat, as
Energy Secretary. Under the coalition agreement, Lib Dem MPs would abstain
in a parliamentary vote on a national planning statement on new nuclear
plants.

Mr Huhne said yesterday that he would strongly oppose any form of public
subsidy for nuclear plants, which remain far more expensive than gas-fired
power stations.

He said: “If [power companies] come up with a plan that genuinely involves no
public subsidy and that’s the agreement of the coalition Government — and I